A favorite in a varietal tasting we recently did, this Sonoma County sauvignon blanc has broad flavors, thanks to 7 percent semillon in the blend, with grapefruit and passionfruit notes, a dash of spice and a long, crisp finish.

From the “superior lots” in the vineyard, the Matanzas Creek Journey Sauvignon Blanc 2014 had an herbal green snap on the nose and is fuller bodied for the varietal. There’s honey dew melon and a long finish of mango, papaya and pear.

When it comes to interesting, high-quality, white wines that deliver the goods at very fair prices, few varieties can match Sauvignon Blanc, and our November edition of Best Buys leads with a full baker's dozen of examples well worth seeking out. …and they are joined among other outstanding offerings earning one star recommendation by the intensely grassy one star Matanzas Creek Sonoma County 2014…

This seductive dry white reminds me of New Zealand’s Marlborough district with its herbal, floral, tart, tangy character. It’s not for the meek of palate. It’s quite different from the Helena Bench with acidity that can curl the hairs in your nose. Aromas are herbal and floral with supporting notes of lime, lychee nut and Asian pear.

Not all sauvignon blanc is one-dimensional and this Sonoma County producer proves it year after year. You pay more — but you get so much more complexity and depth. The Bennett Valley version has powerful aromas of pear, lychee and basil. There is crisp acidity yet a roundness that comes from dash of musque clone. The producer also makes a Helena Bench sauvignon blanc ($40) that is even more delicious.

Here’s a textbook California sauvignon blanc, with soft fruit flavors of grapefruit, guava and quince.

Light and crisp, with aromas and flavors of grapefruit and herbs, long finish.

What structure! What elegance, and complexity. It’s sculpted with acidity and vibrant tropical fruit. Flavors and character are further enhanced by fermentation in large wooden casks that add roundness and smooth the sharp edges. A smaller portion is fermented in cement “egg” fermenters, which add yet another dimension — concrete imparts no flavor and is somewhat porous, allowing the wine to breathe as it does in barrels. The wine is a “cocktail” of peach, pineapple, grapefruit, lime zest and melon. Helena Bench Vineyard is owned by Matanzas Creek and is located at the foot of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley.

Aromas of flowers and peaches, flavors of minerals, anise and tropical fruit.

Not all sauvignon blanc is one-dimensional and this Sonoma County producer proves it year after year. You pay more — but you get so much more complexity and depth. The Bennett Valley version has powerful aromas of pear, lychee and basil. There is crisp acidity yet a roundness that comes from dash of musque clone. The producer also makes a Helena Bench sauvignon blanc ($40) that is even more delicious.

A floral sauvignon blanc with vibrant fruit on the palate. Notes of pear, lemon and thyme. Crisp finish.

A bright and lively sauvignon blanc with notes of nectarine, spice and a hint of lemongrass. Crisp and clean.

Matanzas Creek's regular sauvignon blanc ($21) is a pretty big wine for the price.

Matanzas Creek has long been one of California's leaders in sauvignon blanc, and the 2012 reaffirms that distinction. Not grassy and cutting like some of this varietal, this full-bodied dry white wine offers bold flavors of figs, herbs, green apple, gooseberries, vanilla, almond and mint. This is far more complex than most whites in this price range.

One percent of Semillon is in the blend, but this wine basically highlights classic Sauvignon Blanc notes of citrus and tropical fruits, green apples and pears. There's a slight note of smoky oak. Most noteworthy is a strong taste of tart, green, unripe gooseberries that will divide consumers. This is the winery's most expensive Sauvignon Blanc, but it's not their best.

A bright sauvignon blanc with a lot going on. Aromas and flavors of grapefruit, lemon zest and papaya. Seamless texture. Balanced.

2012 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Helena Bench, Sonoma County (99 percent sauvignon blanc, 1 percent semillon): rich and crisp, with aromas and flavors of sweet oranges and fennel; $40.

This reputable Sonoma County producer made three different sauvignon blancs in 2012 - all of them excellent. It was fun to taste them side by side to see the difference clones and soil can make. We're a sucker for the musque clone, so this version with 40 percent musque appealed to us the most. There is also a dash of semillon to soften the texture. Lots of citrus and melon notes with a touch of minerality and crisp acidity.

The Matanzas Creek Helena Bench Sauvignon Blanc 2012 continued its trend as being one of the prettiest interpretations of the varietal on the market. There’s tropical fruit and floral aromas. Pineapple and starfruit flavors emerge on a medium bodied fresh, crisp and complex white that finished with a zest lime note. The mouthfeel is dynamic because of the texture layers it provided.

Winemaker Marcia Monahan is now releasing single-vineyard bottlings from Bennett Valley and from Helena Bench in Knights Valley, primarily for the restaurant trade. Both are excellent, slightly but noticeably singular expressions of what goes into the Sonoma County blend.

This classic seafood wine was blended of 84% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Sauvignon Musque and 8% Semillon from the Coyote Hills and Knights Crossing Vineyards. A small percentage of the wine was barrel fermented and aged to add texture and complexity. Aromas of dusty mineral, lilac, lime, herbs and white peach invite a sip, revealing flavors of tangy lemon and grapefruit with peach and garden herbs on the finish.

An exceptional expression of Sonoma County sauvignon blanc, with racy acidity that revives the palate, followed by exciting tropical fruit flavors that just won’t quit. My experience with this wine is that it improves over three or four years.

2011 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County: crisp and vibrant, medium-bodied with aromas and flavors of lemons, limes and grapefruit.

A classic Californian offering; vibrant with citrus and verbena notes; super tangy finish.